The Sash

The Sash

The Sash (also known as The Sash My Father Wore) is an Ulster ballad commemorating the victory in the Williamite war in Ireland in 1690–1691 over James II's Catholic invasion.

The lyrics mention the 1689 Siege of Derry, the 1689 Battle of Newtownbutler near Enniskillen, the 1690 Battle of the Boyne and the 1691 Battle of Aughrim. It is popular amongst Ulster loyalists and many unionists in Northern Ireland, as well as in parts of Scotland where it can often be heard sung at football games by supporters of Rangers F.C. (in particular by the more vocal support at away matches). For many in the Ulster loyalist community, it represents an alternative national anthem and a response to the "Wearing of the Green."

The lyrics are thought to be around 100 years old, and the melody has been traced back to the early 19th century. The earliest known printing of the tune is from 1876. It included the words "The Hat My Father Wore". [ [http://www.csufresno.edu/folklore/ballads/BrdHMFW.html Hat My Father Wore, The ] ] The song is classified in the Roud folk-song index as number 4796. The tune of "The Sash" was well known around Europe, and before the lyrics were added, it was a love song that lamented division between people. This song, "Irish Molly-O", was rediscovered and is sung by Tommy Sands.Fact|date=February 2007 Instead of "it was old and it was beautiful", the lyrics were "she was young and she was beautiful". It has also been adapted by fans of Stockport County F.C., who call it "The Scarf My Father Wore" or simply "The Anthem."

Lyrics

Sure l'm an Ulster Orangeman, from Erin's isle I came,
To see my British brethren all of honour and of fame,
And to tell them of my forefathers who fought in days of yore,
That I might have the right to wear, the sash my father wore!
Chorus:
It is old but it is beautiful, and its colours they are fine
It was worn at Derry, Aughrim, Enniskillen and the Boyne.
My father wore it as a youth in bygone days of yore,
And on the Twelfth I love to wear the sash my father wore.
Chorus
For those brave men who crossed the Boyne have not fought or died in vain
Our Unity, Religion, Laws, and Freedom to maintain,
If the call should come we'll follow the drum, and cross that river once more
That tomorrow's Ulsterman may wear the sash my father wore!
Chorus
And when some day, across the sea to Antrim's shore you come,
We'll welcome you in royal style, to the sound of flute and drum
And Ulster's hills shall echo still, from Rathlin to Dromore
As we sing again the loyal strain of the sash my father wore!

heet music

Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.grandorange.org.uk/parades/orangeman_on_parade.html Orange Order of Northern Ireland]
* [http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=DoX5b1ooCnw Video of a man playing The Sash on a fife] - from Youtube


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • The Sash My Father Wore and Other Stories — Infobox Album Name = The Sash My Father Wore and Other Stories Type = studio Artist = ballboy Released = 2003 Recorded = Genre = Indie Length = 38 minutes Label = SL Records Producer = Reviews = Last album = A Guide for the Daylight Hours This… …   Wikipedia

  • Sash! — Origin Germany Genres Trance Vocal Trance Progressive House Eurodance Years active 1995–present Labels …   Wikipedia

  • sash — The sash you wear [16] and the sash that goes in a window [17] are distinct words. The former comes from Arabic shāsh ‘turban’, and that is exactly how English first acquired it: ‘All of them wear on their heads white shashes and turbans, the… …   The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins

  • Sash (disambiguation) — Sash can refer to: * Sash fabric belt* Sash window, the framing which holds panes of glass in a glazed window or door* Sash! German DJ/producer team* Stand alone shell a Unix like operating system shell, which includes many built in, Statically… …   Wikipedia

  • sash — The sash you wear [16] and the sash that goes in a window [17] are distinct words. The former comes from Arabic shāsh ‘turban’, and that is exactly how English first acquired it: ‘All of them wear on their heads white shashes and turbans, the… …   Word origins

  • The Twelfth — Orangemen parade in Bangor on 12 July 2010 Also called Orangemen s Day, Orangefest Observed by …   Wikipedia

  • Sash window — A Georgian house in England with sash windows A sash window or hung sash window is made of one or more movable panels or sashes that form a frame to hold panes of glass, which are often separated from other panes (or lights ) by narrow… …   Wikipedia

  • Sash — A sash ( ar. شاش, shash Craig, 1849, p. 620] ) is a cloth belt used to hold a robe together, and is usually tied about the waist. The Japanese equivalent of a sash, obi , serves to hold a kimono or yukata together. Decorative sashes may pass from …   Wikipedia

  • sash cord — noun a strong cord connecting a sash weight to a sliding sash • Syn: ↑sash line • Hypernyms: ↑cord * * * noun : the cord used to attach a weight to a window sash * * * a cord for connecting a vertically sliding window sash with a counterweight.… …   Useful english dictionary

  • sash — 1. n. a long strip or loop of cloth etc. worn over one shoulder usu. as part of a uniform or insignia, or worn round the waist, usu. by a woman or child. Derivatives: sashed adj. Etymology: earlier shash f. Arab. sas muslin, turban 2. n. 1 a… …   Useful english dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”